A DEFIANT unbeaten century by Wasim Jaffer was chiefly responsible for India erasing a deficit of 130 runs as they batted themselves into a fighting position against the West Indies on the third day of the first Digicel Test match at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) yesterday.

At the close, the visitors were 215 for two, with Jaffer unbeaten on 113 and captain Raul Dravid on a patient 21.

It was a good day for the Indians as they dismissed the home side for 371 about half an hour before lunch and then their openers laid the platform for a strong reply, which gave them an 85-run lead - with eight wickets standing - at the close.

Jaffer, who reached his century when he square-drove left-arm pacer Ian Bradshaw past backward point for four, has so far batted for 290 minutes and faced 222 balls, spanking 11 other boundaries in a magnificent display of concentration and grit.

AGGRESSIVE

Jaffer shared a stand of 72 with Virender Sehwag - who hit a typically aggressive 41 from just 58 balls with six fours and a six - for the first wicket, which set the tone for India's positive response.

Jaffer added 75 for the second wicket with VVS Laxaman (31) and an undefeated 68 with Dravid, and this partnership could prove crucial on the fourth day if the Windies bowlers do not make an early breakthrough.

Sehwag and Jaffer denied the Windies an early breakthrough as they defended resolutely on a pitch that continued to play true.

By lunch, the Indians had reached 16 without loss after Bradshaw, who was 15 not out overnight, hit a career-best 33 to help the home side to their eventual score after they had resumed on 318 for six.

Bradshaw added 49 for the seventh wicket with Denesh Ramdin, who was 22 not out, before the wicket-keeper edged a low catch to his opposite number to give pacer Munaf Patel his third wicket to finish with three for 80 from 28 overs.

Bradshaw was caught off the bowling of debutant pacer VRV Singh, who took his first Test wicket and then had Edwards caught behind to finish with two for 61.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who took the last wicket of Corey Collymore, leg-before-wicket for no score, ended with three for 86 to lift his career tally to 513 wickets.

Dave Mohammed was left undefeated on 19.

NEW BALL

India had taken the new ball at the start of the day's play and the pitch showed more life and bounce than on the previous two days.

Just after the interval, the Windies went a bowler short after Edwards left the field complaining of a hamstring injury.

Edwards is the home team's quickest bowler and his absence dented the potency of their attack while the Indian batsmen showed better application and more diligence.

JUGGLING CATCH

Collymore accounted for Sehwag when he drove at a delivery and got an edge to first slip where Chris Gayle clutched a juggling catch.

By tea, the visitors were 121 for one - Jaffer on 60 and Laxman on 16 - still nine runs short of erasing the Windies' lead.

They duly completed that formality as Jaffer and Laxman steadfastly resisted the Windies attack before Laxman's cross-batted swipe skied a catch to deep mid-on off left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed to make it 147 for two.

But Dravid came in to give Jaffer admirable support and they both defied Brain Lara's bowling changes to steer their side to the close without any further loss.

INDIA 1st innings 241 (R Dravid 49; Dwayne Bravo 4-40)

WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 318 for 6)

C Gayle c Dravid b Kumble 72

D Ganga lbw Patel 9

R Sarwan lbw Kumble 58

B Lara c Yuvraj b Patel 18

S Chanderpaul c wkp Dhoni b Sehwag 24

D Bravo st Dhoni b Sehwag 68

+D Ramdin c wkp Dhoni b Sehwag 26

I Bradshaw c Yuvraj b VRV Singh 33

D Mohammed not out 19

F Edwards c wkp Dhoni b VRV Singh 4

C Collymore lbw Kumble 0

Extras (b2, lb14, nb22, w2) 40

TOTAL (all out - 98.3 overs) 371

Fall of wkts: 1-18, 2-137, 3-159, 4-182, 5-255, 6-282, 7-331, 8-359, 9-370.

Bowling: Sreesanth 16-1-96-0 (2w, 1nb); Patel 28-7-80-3 (7nb); VRV Singh 15-1-61-2 (3nb); Kumble 27.3-6-86-3 (5nb); Sehwag 12-2-32-2 (2nb).

INDIA 2nd Innings:

W Jaffer not out 113

V Sehwag c Gayle b Collymore 41

VVS Laxman c Bradshaw b Mohammed 31

R Dravid not out 21

Extras (lb2, nb5, w2) 9

TOTAL (for 2 wkts) 215

Fall of wkts: 1-72, 2-147

To Bat: Y Singh, M Kaif, +M Dhoni, A Kumble, S Sreesanth, M Patel, VRV Singh.

Bowling: Edwards 5.4-2-16-0; Collymore 14-6-27-1 (2nb); Bradshaw 15-1-61-0 (2nb); Bravo 12.2-4-37-0 (1w); Mohammed 10-1-39-1; Gayle 7-2-18-0; Sarwan 4-0-15-0 (1w, 1nb).

Position: India lead by 85 runs with eight wickets standing.

Umpires: Asad Rauf, Simon Taufel.

Match referee: Jeff Crowe.